‘Medical reporting organisations could face more scrutiny over their costs after a court ordered a full breakdown of expert fees.’
Law Society's Gazette, 25th May 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘A representative claim on behalf of 1.6 million people whose medical records were drawn upon to help Google subsidiary DeepMind develop an app has been thrown out by the High Court because of the claimants’ differing circumstances. Ruling in Prismall v Google UK & Anor, Mrs Justice Heather Williams DBE found that the claim failed the ‘same interest’ requirement set out in the civil procedure rules.’
Law Society's Gazette, 22nd May 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The High Court has struck out a representative action brought on behalf of 1.6m people who claimed Google and DeepMind Technologies misused their medical records.’
Legal Futures, 22nd May 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘In what is becoming something of a pattern, the Rules committee have come along to clear up the anomaly resulting from the decisions in the Appellate courts, this time in Cartwright v Venduct Engineering Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 1654; [2018] 1 WLR 6137 and Ho v Adelekun [2021] UKSC 43; [2021] 1 WLR 5132.’
Gatehouse Chambers, 16th March 2023
Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk
‘In Excalibur & Keswick Groundworks Ltd v McDonald [2023] EWCA Civ 18, the Court of Appeal has confirmed the difficulty of removing QOCS protection from a claimant who discontinues at the last moment. This follows previous decisions in the same spirit, such as Mabb v English [2017] EWHC 3616 (QB).’
3PB, March 2023
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘It is a frustrating scenario which will be familiar to many defendant personal injury practitioners. A claimant moments before a trial begins, decides to file a notice to discontinue. The defendant, who has spent years building the defence at significant cost and expense, is unable to recover its legal costs because the claimant is protected under the Qualified One Way Costs Shifting (“QOCS”) regime. Is a defendant able to set aside this notice of discontinuance on the basis that the Claimant’s last-minute conduct has “obstructed the just disposal of proceedings” and thereby remove QOCS protection under CPR 44.15(c)? This issue came before the Court of Appeal in the recent case of Excalibur and Keswick Groundworks Limited v Keswick [2023] EWCA Civ 18.’
39 Essex Chambers, 29th March 2023
Source: www.39essex.com
‘It was, Mr Justice Peel concluded, “the clearest possible case” for reasonable financial provision from a deceased’s estate under section 1 (1) (a) of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (IA 1975).’
Becket Chambers, 15th March 2023
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
‘Currently set off of a defendant’s costs against a claimant’s costs is precluded where it exceeds the monetary cap reflecting the total of any orders for damages and interest made in a claimant’s favour (Ho v Adelekun [2021] UKSC 43). Moreover, a defendant can only enforce their costs against damages and interest ordered in a claimant’s favour, i.e. not against a settlement made in the claimant’s favour (Cartwright v Venduct Engineering Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 1654).’
3PB, March 2023
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘A judge has chided a litigant in person for failing to familiarise himself with the civil procedure rules and the statutes governing limitation. Effectively quashing a defamation claim brought against Pakistani newspaper publishers, a broadcaster and a journalist, Master Cook said that claimant Shah Muhammad had not consulted the Kings Bench Guide and the CPR, both available online.’
Law Society's Gazette, 3rd April 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Court of Appeal has interpreted the rules for non-attendance on the small claims track in a manner consistent with rule 39.3 in finding that an absent Claimant nevertheless “appeared” at his trial, through his legal representative.’
Pump Court Chambers, 29th March 2023
Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com
‘In our latest article, James Saunders examines burdens of proof in claims against directors, the duty of directors to account for company assets and the ambit of CPR 32.19 notices to prove documents.’
New Square Chambers, 13th March 2023
Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk
‘Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice, reflects on 25 years of the Civil Justice Council.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 20th March 2023
Source: www.judiciary.uk
‘A claimant’s 90/10 liability offer went against both the letter and spirit of civil procedure rules on Part 36, a High Court judge has ruled.’
Law Society's Gazette, 16th March 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The important procedural question raised in Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited v JJH Enterprises Limited [2022] EWCA Civ 1509 was this: where an appellant’s notice (AN) is filed with the Court of Appeal electronically in accordance with the Electronic Working Pilot Scheme (introduced by PD51O), should the AN be filed by 4.30pm on the last day of the permitted period, or could it be filed at any time up to midnight on that day?’
Law Society's Gazette, 3rd March 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘A claimant who discontinued his personal injury case on the morning of trial should still be entitled to costs protection, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 18th January 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘AXX (A protected party by his litigation friend XRE) v. Zajac [2022] EWHC 2463 is the first reported case in the High Court (KBD) concerning the ‘new’ CPR Practice Direction 1A which requires the court to take all proportionate measures to address any impediment to a party’s participation in proceedings caused by their ‘vulnerability’. Master McCloud granted an application made on behalf of the Claimant (who was a protected party due to a psychotic condition which had arisen after his accident) for a trial of causation as a preliminary issue on the basis that, if successful at that stage, the Claimant could seek interim funding for treatment to address his psychiatric symptoms and allow him to participate fully in the subsequent quantum trial. The Master also refused an application from the Defendant for an ‘unless’ order (whereby the claim would be stayed unless the Claimant cooperated with examinations to be performed by the Defendant’s instructed medical experts) because of concerns about the Claimant’s capacity to consent to examination. This decision illustrates the important role that PD1A has in shaping case management decisions to protect the interests of parties with vulnerabilities.’
Exchange Chambers, 22nd December 2022
Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk
‘The High Court has issued a stark warning to solicitors who sign a certificate of compliance on non-compliant witness statements so their clients can have their day in court.’
Legal Futures, 4th January 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The operator and publisher of a website is not entitled to participate in court proceedings under the pseudonym “Cøbra” – even with legal representation, the High Court has ruled. In Wright v Persons Unknown, Costs Judge Rowley agreed to bar “Cøbra” from costs proceedings arising from a copyright case unless it identifies itself and provides an address.’
Law Society's Gazette, 25th November 2022
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The government appears to have significantly altered its plans for implementing the fixed recoverable costs extension just weeks before the rules need to be signed off.’
Law Society's Gazette, 11th November 2022
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The government appears to have significantly altered its plans for implementing the fixed recoverable costs extension just weeks before the rules need to be signed off.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 11th November 2022
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
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